The Transport Department has obtained funding from the Legislative Council Finance Committee to introduce "stop-and-go" e-payment facilities at seven government tolled tunnels and roads, Secretary for Transport & Housing Prof Anthony Cheung says.
Motorists will be able to use contactless smart cards as an alternative payment method at the Aberdeen, Cross Harbour, Lion Rock, Shing Mun and Tseung Kwan O tunnels and on the Lantau Link and Tsing Sha Highway.
Speaking at a Legislative Council meeting today, Prof Cheung said the Transport and Electrical & Mechanical Services departments have been working on the project's technical details, having completed modifications to the existing manual toll collection system.
He added that within the coming two months, the contractor selected through open tender will start designing the e-payment facilities, while the department will conduct another open tender to select contractors for providing the e-payment services.
Noting that subsidiary legislation has to be amended for the e-payment plan, Prof Cheung said the Transport Panel will be consulted on the legislative proposals within this year and he expected the facilities to be commissioned in phases from mid-2017.
"Motorists only need to hold a specified contactless smart card within two centimetres of the card reader to detect the data on the smart card for transaction purposes," he said.
The project is estimated to cost $45.53 million while operating expenditure is estimated at $15 million per year.
Prof Cheung added that a study will be conducted on the dissemination of real-time data to be collected through the Electronic Road Pricing Pilot Scheme, the new-generation parking meter system and the "stop-and-go" e-payment facilities to help people plan their journeys.
